Venetian blind cord-locking construction



: Sept. 24, 1946. J. NISENSON VENETIAN BLIND CdRD-LOGKI I IGCONSTRUCTION F iled May 25. 1944 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Sept. 24,1946

VENETIAN BLIND CORD-LOCKING CONSTRUCTION Jules Nisenson, New York, N.Y., assignor to Publix Metal Products, Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application May 23, 1944, Serial No. 536,994

4Claims. (01. 160-173) This invention relatesgenerally to the Venetianblind art and more particularly to a novel and useful constructionthereof with especial reference to the cord-lock therefor. 7

Among the principal objects of thepresent invention lies the provisionof a Venetian blind construction in which the cord-lockis combined withthe head-bar so that the slats of the blind may be elevated by pullingdown upon the cord and may be lowered by first releasing the dog with ashort downward tug and then positioning the cord in a forward directiontovvardthe user.

Another objectherein lies in the provision of structure of the classdescribed whereinnpon releaserof the downward tension on the elevatingcords, for example by letting them free from the users hand, saidcordswill fall into a vertical position by the action of gravity,causing a consequent engagement of the-cord gripping dog and a cessationof upward movement' of the cord and downward movement of the slats.Another 7 object herein lies in the provision of a novel and usefulVenetianblind cord-lock device, which is of simple and durablefabrication so that the same is substantially foolproof in operation.

The simplified construction of the present de'-* vice permits the sameto be manufactured in but showing the dog in an engaged positionthereof. r r I Figure 6 is a fragmentary'revisional view correspondingto Figure 2' and showing the tilt bar Din locking device in anopenposition thereof. 'In accordance with th invention the Venetianblind structure is generally indicated by reference character I andincludes broadly, a head bear II, a tilt bar l2, a plurality of slats(only one l3 of which'is shown), and slat supporting tapes I 4,

The tilt bar l2 may be of the usual construc-' tion having end pins I5which are pivotally supported in the bracket I6 and the bracket 29,

which depend .from the undersurface H of the head bar II. The headbar'll may be provided withthe usual channel 18 through which theelevating cords l9 7 and 20 may have horizontal travel and withorificeszl and-22 through which the said cords may havevertical travel.The

ends 23 and 24 of the headbar II maybe supported 'in' the window frameby any suitable brackets not shown." Thehead bar H adjacent largequantity at low cost so that it may have a consequent widespread usanddistribution.

Another object herein lies in. the provision of a cord-lock devicewhichmay be integrated with standard type head rails which are notchedvin V a stereotyped planner for the reception'of prior art cord-locks.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fullyappear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views: v w

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a Venetian blindshowing an embodiment. of the invention. 7 v V Figure 2 is a right sideelevational View of the cord-lock seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a left side elevational view of the cord lock shown inFigure 1 or as seen from the rear of Figure 2. I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewshowing the freeposition of the cord engaging dog and with the cord shown in a positionit may occupy during revisionof the slats.

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 4,"

devices operating in a different manner. device 30 includes a housing 3|having-a pulley supporting portion 32, a cord separating portion,

the end 24' may be provided with a cord-like re'- ceiving opening 25.This structure is of a stand-,

ar'dfand usual natur and therefore? does not require description infurther detail. It may be noted at this point that the cord-lock device,

30 has such external configuration that it may be inserted into theorifice 25, and that the orifice 25 maybe of the usual size, shape andposition for the accommodation of known cord-lock The 33 and a lower dogcarrying portion 34; the bracket 29; a pivotall mounted dog 35, and'alatch 36.v

The bracket 29 is preferably generally L shaped including a horizontalflange 31 and a vertical body portion 38 The horizontal flange 31 may beprovided with the usual screw holes not shown, by means of which it maybe attached to the. undersurface I! in the usual manner. The lower partof the vertical body portion 38 is provided with an open ended slot 39the inner end of which is adapted to receive one of the pins. l5.

The latch 36 is of hook shape and has an in- I wardly extendingprojection 40 which is adapted to co-act with the concavity 28 of therib 4|.

3 Thus, the rib 4| not only acts to strengthen the lovvermostpart of thevertical body portion 38,

but also as a receiving means for the detachable engagement of the latch36.

pivotally mounted in any suitable manner, as for.

The latch- 36 is example by the use of the rivet 42 to the body portion38.

The housing 3| is of irregular configuration best seen in the drawingand is secured to the body portion 38 in an angular position by swagingover two projections 43 and 44, from the front and rear walls 59 and 65respectively. The cord separating portion 33 includes an inwardlydirected rib 45 formed from the outer housing wall 21, which is adaptedto be disposed between the cords l9 and 2!! as they pass about thegrooves 56 and 4'! in the pulley 48. The pulley 48 is rotatably mountedupon the pin 59 which extends between the front and rear walls 55 andE9.

The dog 35 is preferably formed from a single blank of sheet material sothat the clawing portion is of substantially U shape and has an uppershort gripping member 52 and a lower long gripping member 53. As bestseen in Figure 1, the said gripping members 52 and 53 are preferablyserrated. Extending from the portion 54 of the dog 35 are a pair ofhangers 55, 58, which are substantially identical so that a descriptionof one will suffice forthe both. As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the hangers55 and 56 have an upward movement limiting detent 51 and a downwardmovement limiting detent 55. These detents i and 58 are located asufficient distance from the axle 59 upon which the dog 35 is rotatablymounted so that they have the limiting effect described. Thus, in Figure5 the detent 51 is approaching a position of contact with the rear wall69, being prevented from so doing by the intervention of the cords i9and 2! In Figure 4 the detent 58 is in engagement with the rear wall 59holding the gripping members 52 and 53 in readiness for re-engagementwith the cords, as will be more fully described hereinbelow. The axle 59is journalled between the outer wall 2! and the vertical portion 38.

The lower edge of the front wall 5 is outwardly flared to form a lip 5!,about which the cords I9 and 26 may change their direction of travelduring the time that the Venetian blind level is being adjusted.

Assuming that the flange 3'! is in a horizontal position, the walls 58,5! and 50 will be angularly disposed but the axle 59 will be spaced fromand substantially parallel to the axis of rotation (through the pins Id)of the tilt bar I 2, and hence the slats.

Mode of operation Assuming the blind to have been previously elevated toa desired level and that the cord-lock is now in an active or lookingposition, the parts will appear as shown in Figure 5, in which caseupward motion of the cords l9 and 20 thereat will cause'a greaterwedging action which flows from a clockwise rotation of the latch 35about the axle 59.

A short downward tug on the cords l9 and 20 as viewed in Figure 5 willcause the dog to become disengaged and to rotate in a counter clockwisedirection to take the position shown in Figure 4. This rotation of thedog 35 results from the fact that the axle 59 is to the right as viewedin said figures, of the center of gravity. In this position of the dog,the cords l9 and 20 may have free upward or downward movement,especially when they are pulled forward in the position shown in Figure4 by the user whonormally does this when standing in front of theVenetian blind to lower or raise it. After the blind has been raised orlowered to the desired level, the user has merely to release the cordsl9 and 20 which he has been holding, whereupon they will fall by theaction of gravity to the position shown by the dot dash lines on Figure4. The blind will then start to fall pulling the portions H 9 and I20 ofthe cords downwardly and correspondingly, the portions H9 and 229 willgo upward. Frictionally engaging the gripping member 52 first, the dogwill be swung around in a clockwise diretion until it wedges the cordportions Eli and 22% up against the front wall. The parts will nowappear as shown in Figure 5.

It may thus be seen that I have provided a novel Venetian blindconstruction which with a limited number of parts, provides a simple andfoolproof operation for Venetian blind elevation control. One of theprincipal advantages, apart from the simplicity and low cost of theconstruction, lies in the fact that the user need have no particulartraining or previous experience with the operation of the blind since anormal pulling operation will disengage the looking dog and just lettingthe cords go will result in the automatic locking of the blindsubstantially at the position it was when the cords were released by theuser.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a Venetian blind cord-lock, means for rotatably and detachablysupporting a pintle ended tilt-bar comprising: a vertical body portionhaving an open ended slot extending from one vertical edge thereof; aflexible latch pivotally mounted on said body portion and adapted in theclosed position thereof to obstruct passage to and from said slot and inthe open position thereof to clear said slot; a rib in the lower part ofsaid body portion below said slot, said rib having a concavity; aprojection on said latch adapted to detachably engage with saidconcavity, said latch being distortable in the direction of its axis ofrotation so that the projection may ride over the vertical body portionas it approaches or recedes from said concavity as the latch isorbitally moved.

2. In a Venetian blind construction having a slat tiltable about its ownlongitudinal axis, and elevating means for said slat including a cord; acord-lock for maintaining said cord in adjusted positions thereofcomprising: a body; a cord gripping dog movably mounted-on said body,and adapted for effective movement forwardly and rearwardly with respectto said body, said dog having a gripping surface extending generallyforwardly with respect to said body and said blind and when inidleposition adapted to be normally and freely engaged at the front sidethereof by said cord; whereby manual movement of said cord forwardly ofthe blind will disengage the cord from said dog.

3. In a Venetian blind construction having a slat tiltable about its ownlongitudinal axis, and elevating means for said slat including a cord acord-lock for maintaining saidcord in adjusted positions thereofcomprising: a body; cord suspending means associated with said body; acord gripping dog movably mounted on said body for forward and rearward'movement with re spect to said body-and said blind, said dog having aforward gripping surface and when in idle position adapted'to benormally and freely engaged at the front side thereof by said cord,whereby manual movement of said cord forwarly of the blindwill'disengage the cord from said dog; said dog lying in the normal pathof travel of the cord as it hangs from the cord suspending means underthe action of gravity; whereby upward movement of the cord engages thedog to lock the cordbetween the dog and the body of the cord-lock.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the dog is pivotally mountedon the cord-lock body for movement about an axis spaced and parallel totheaxis of movement of the slat.

' JULES NISENSON.

